Two public engagement projects have been funded through ISSF directly:

MEG and Me involved public engagement in the design of magnetoencephalography (MEG) experiments. The questions selected from the public for investigation through MEG concerned audio/visual responses; responses to babies’ laughing and crying; viewing stereograms; memory and movement. Results of the experiments were fed back at the Cambridge Science Festival to a public audience, and through online film.

Learning is Infectious is a kit that can be borrowed by youth groups and schools, created by Dr Bethany Dearlove, covering themes such as disease detection and genetics

Additional Public Engagement activity:

Science in the Classroom is supported by the University Public Engagement team and has 10 resources available to be downloaded by teachers, parents, young people, youth leaders and more.

Science on the street: 23 researchers took part in two days of events in March 2015 which offered members of the public the chance to speak with researchers informally, centred around a coffee van on Cambridge market square and at the Science Festival.

Future developments in ISSF-supported public engagement

A forthcoming training course for women scientists in public communication and engagement

Cambridge Shorts

We have funded a number of activities through this strand, including a Public Engagement competition, workshops (on genomics research for e.g.) and a public engagement project driven by the Museum of Zoology.

Public Engagement Coordinator for the Biological Sciences

Sophie Wheeler will support researchers from the School of Biological Sciences and School of Clinical Medicine with public engagement (PE) and public and patient involvement (PPI) activities by providing offering bespoke advice and training on communication, grant applications and activity design. Sophie will also continue to build upon existing support networks of researchers and PE/PPI professionals.